The ClamCase for the iPad will turn your tablet into a veritable laptop, adding protection, a keyboard, and endless options as a stand.

A growing trend in tablets and tablet accessories has been the added ability to convert the consumption-first devices into productivity powerhouses. Keyboards, cases, and combinations of the two expand functionality and help you get the most out of your favorite slab. The $149 ClamCase adds a full-QWERTY keyboard and a clever 360-degree hinge, all in a great-looking laptop form factor, making it our Editors' Choice for keyboard cases. Though it adds some significant heft, if you're looking for a versatile case, keyboard, and stand, you can find all three in the well-built ClamCase. This case is advertised for the third-generation iPad and fourth-generation iPad, but since both those two and the iPad 2 are nearly identical in size, this case should work for all three.

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Design and HingeWith an iPad snapped into place, the ClamCase is indistinguishable from your typical netbook. The fit is precise and secure, and it's simple to fit the iPad inside and remove it as necessary. The ClamCase, which comes in black, white or a combination of the two, measures 9.80 by 8.10 by 0.95 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.7 pounds on its own. It more than doubles the weight of the iPad—which is a significant gain—but the quality and strength of the materials is evident throughout the all-plastic construction. Still, if weight is a big factor then you will probably want to focus on external keyboard-only options, as most folio cases are not very light. The Belkin YourType Folio + Keyboard ($99, 3.5stars) weighs 15.4 ounces, but doesn't come nearly as close to replicating a laptop experience as the ClamCase.

The 360-degree hinge is sturdy and allows for complete control over the angles of use, whether in laptop mode or as a stand. It is a pretty clever design, as the two-part hinge helps balance the iPad while in laptop mode and also allows the case to fold completely back the opposite way. The hinge is unyielding under the weight of the iPad and securely holds any angle. This is an improvement over other folio designs that only offer a few, less secure angles for use. The ClamCase also doubles as a stand for your iPad in just about any position you can imagine.

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Keyboard Performance, Setup, and ConclusionsThe ability to function as a stand, with its clever hinge, is great, but the real reason to get the ClamCase is for the added keyboard. The ClamCase has a full-QWERTY Bluetooth keyboard that uses island-style, chiclet keys—similar to the ones you'll find on most Apple keyboards. Don't expect a laptop-style typing experience, though, as the keys have necessarily been shrunken and smushed together to fit the footprint of the iPad itself. While I would have appreciated either better spacing or more key definition, the keyboard is still a vast improvement over the on-screen keyboard. The keys have decent travel and offer good feedback, but really the spacing will be an issue for most at first. After a few hours of use, however, I became accustomed to the feel and was able to write a lot of this review on the iPad itself. The ClamCase has a good number of iPad specific function keys, including Home, Lock, Search, Cut-Copy-Paste, and media controls. I would have liked to see brightness keys, but it's still a good selection.

Setup is dead simple; just slide the iPad in, power on the keyboard, and pair it in the Settings menu. It is the same as any other Bluetooth accessory and takes less than a minute to finish. You only need to do this once. In use, performance was fast and responsive, with keystrokes registering with little to no delay. However, after sleep and wake the keyboard needs a second to reconnect, though that's the case with many Bluetooth accessories.

The ClamCase is powered by an internal, rechargeable battery, which the manufacturer claims will last for 90 hours of continuous use or 100 days on standby. Charging is accomplished by connecting the micro USB port on the case to any computer with the included cable.

For those looking for that familiar laptop feel for their iPad, look no further than the ClamCase. It offers a versatile, sturdy hinge and a full-QWERTY keyboard in a package that's indiscernible from a netbook, making it our new Editors' Choice. Though the ClamCase doubles the weight of your iPad and it's $50 more than the competition, it also provides solid protection from drops and offers a wide array of useful stand options. If you can deal with some added bulk, this is a thoughtfully designed, high-quality case that can really take your tablet experience to the next level.

Before joining the consumer electronics team at PCMag, Eugene worked at local news station NY1 doing everything from camera work to writing scripts. He grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2010. Outside of work Eugene enjoys TV, loud music, and making generally healthy and responsible life choices.
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